The relationship between Israel and the United Nations has long been fraught, but the ongoing conflict in Gaza is pushing it to an unprecedented breaking point.
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As scrutiny intensifies on UN agencies operating in Gaza, concerns grow regarding the potential sidelining of the United Nations altogether. Will this shift undermine the multilateral system at a time when the UN is already grappling with severe financial challenges and facing questions about its overall relevance?
Christine Ryan, director of the Prevention of Crimes against Humanity Project at Columbia University, poignantly remarked, “Israel’s sidelining of UN agencies in Gaza—particularly in delivering aid—offers a chilling glimpse of what a world without a functioning United Nations might look like: starving people shot while queuing for food and malnourished medical staff too weak to treat civilians.” This sentiment underscores the gravity of the situation.
Historically, it was a UN resolution in 1948 that sought to partition the former British mandate into Jewish and Arab states, setting off the first Arab-Israeli war. Today, the UN Security Council, the organization’s highest decision-making body, continues to convene, as it did recently, to discuss the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, including what remains termed “the Palestinian Question.”
During a recent Security Council meeting, the Israeli Ambassador confirmed that at the end of the month, the head of the UN’s humanitarian agency (OCHA) in Gaza and the West Bank would be removed, and visas for other international staff would be restricted. “We will no longer allow anti-Israel activity under the guise of humanitarianism,” stated Israel’s Ambassador, Danny Danon.
This appears to be part of a broader trend. Last year, Israel accused UNRWA, the UN agency responsible for Palestinian refugees, of colluding with Hamas, which led to a ban on its operations within Israel and contact with Israeli officials. Similarly, Israel’s government objects to the UN peacekeeping force in Southern Lebanon (UNIFIL), with the upcoming renewal of its mandate on the agenda for discussion.
In New York, the United States continues to defend Israel against UN scrutiny. Acting US Ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Shea, described accusations of genocide against Israel as “politically motivated and categorically false,” asserting that they constitute a “deliberate, cynical propaganda campaign by Hamas.” Earlier this month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio sanctioned the UN’s special rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, accusing her of promoting antisemitism.
The climate of intimidation seems effective; just a week later, all three members of a UN Commission of Inquiry set up to investigate alleged violations of international law in the region suddenly resigned, a move that was welcomed by the Israeli mission to the UN.
Moreover, the establishment of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation—backed by the US and Israel—has raised eyebrows. Described as a necessary measure to prevent aid from falling into Hamas’s hands, it has been criticized by other member states for leading to tragic mass casualties among Palestinians near aid distribution points. While Israel defends this initiative, UN officials assert that there is “no evidence of widespread diversion” of aid.
With aid from the UN dwindling to a trickle amid worsening famine, Ciarán Donnelly, senior vice president of crisis response at the International Rescue Committee, emphasized, “The UN and UNRWA are the only organizations capable of delivering services at scale in Gaza. While NGOs play a vital role, they are ultimately a complement to the basic services provided by the UN.” He highlighted that if the UN cannot operate effectively, the humanitarian impact would be exponentially more challenging.
Experts warn that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation could set a troubling precedent for aid distribution worldwide. Taoiseach Micheál Martin expressed his “deep concern over the undermining of the UN and relief organizations”, calling for the restoration of the “primacy of the United Nations.” However, given current geopolitical tensions, achieving this goal seems daunting.
Recent conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and Haiti have sparked intense diplomatic paralysis, leading to serious doubts regarding the UN’s efficacy. The United States, previously a stalwart supporter of the international rules-based order established post-World War II, has shifted towards a more nationalistic view, evidenced by its withdrawal from key UN bodies and funding cuts to agencies like UNICEF.
Anjali Dayal, an associate professor at Fordham University, aptly noted, “The UN is being actively undermined and faces an existential crisis, largely due to financial constraints.” This week, Secretary-General António Guterres directed UN officials to reduce the agency’s workforce by a fifth, amidst widespread layoffs across UN bodies. While some insiders anticipate these financial strains may usher in necessary reforms, the outlook remains uncertain.
There are even concerns that the UN could follow the path of the ill-fated League of Nations, according to Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group. However, some optimists believe the current turmoil may reinvigorate global commitment to the UN. “Recent crises have highlighted the relevance of the UN,” Christine Ryan remarked. “Nothing illustrates the necessity of the UN more starkly than the chaos left by its absence.”
In a notable political move, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would recognize Palestine at the upcoming UN General Assembly—a gesture intended to highlight the importance of the UN, especially amid ongoing discussions about a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
Despite skepticism regarding the impact of a UN conference on such a longstanding issue, a French diplomatic source emphasized, “Sometimes from the darkness, the light can emerge,” indicating a glimmer of hope amidst the ongoing challenges.
Ultimately, the fate of the UN may greatly influence global humanitarian efforts and international diplomacy for years to come.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
